Tuesday, 28 November 2023

William Taylor

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:58): History is important, especially in this New World Order where rewriting or cancelling history is the order of the day, so it was a great pleasure to launch William Taylor of Overnewton and Beyond: Pioneer and Pastoralist, written by his great-granddaughter Joan Mackenzie. William Taylor arrived in Australia in 1840, aged 22, from Scotland. Melbourne was founded only five years earlier, in 1835, and it was a decade prior to the gold rush.

William Taylor lived an extraordinary life of great vision and public service. His biography includes many contributions and achievements, such as being member for Wimmera and then Southern Province in Victoria’s only legislative body. In 1851 the Legislative Council made long-lasting contributions to Victorian parliamentary democracy by drafting the first constitution of Victoria and ensuring the secret ballot in elections. He was also there to order the construction of Parliament House in Spring Street, opened in 1856. He died on 21 June 1903, only 2½ years after the Federation of Australia.

I would like to congratulate Joan, an amazing lady now in her late 80s, on her 20 years of research into this important history of a very important Victorian. This book should serve as a constant reminder that we must honour those who made such enormous contributions to the lifestyle we enjoy today.